Choosing a recruitment agency can be tricky.

With so many options out there, how do you know who’s the real deal and who’s just full of hot air?

Let’s have a look at the process.

Step 1: Identify your needs

Before you even start looking for an agency, you need to know what you’re looking for.

What roles are you trying to fill? What’s your budget? What’s the timeline?

The clearer you are on your needs, the easier it will be to find an agency that can meet them.

Step 2: Research & shortlist

Once you know what you’re looking for, the next step is to do your homework.

This usually involves asking for recommendations, scouring the internet, and maybe even posting on LinkedIn that you’re in the market for a recruitment agency.

You’ll likely end up with a list of potential agencies.

Step 3: Initial contact & interviews

Now comes the part where you reach out to these agencies to get a feel for what they’re like.

This might involve initial emails, phone calls, and even face-to-face meetings.

You’ll discuss your needs, their services, and get a general sense of whether it’s a good fit.

Step 4: Ask for proposals

After the initial contact, you’ll ask for proposals that outline how they plan to meet your needs, what their fees are, and what kind of timeline they can commit to.

Step 5: Check references

Before making a decision, you’ll want to check references.

This means reaching out to other companies they’ve worked with to get a sense of their reliability, effectiveness, and professionalism.

Step 6: Negotiate terms

Once you’ve settled on an agency that seems like a good fit, the next step is to negotiate terms.

This will include fees, payment terms, and any other conditions.

Step 7: Testing

Many companies opt for a test period or a test project to further assess the agency’s capabilities.

This gives you a chance to see them in action without fully committing or having to give the agency complete exclusivity.

Step 8: Review & decide

After the testing period, you evaluate their performance and make a final decision whether to continue business or not.

If they met or exceeded expectations, congratulations, you’ve found your agency!

If not, it’s back to the drawing board, and you start the process all over again.

So why can this process be so complete and yet so frustrating?

Time-consuming: Each of these steps takes time, and if you have to go back to the drawing board, it’s even longer.

Risk of poor fit: Without a quality-check-system, you’re relying on your own judgment and references, which may not always be reliable.

Costly: Time is money, and the longer it takes to find the right agency, the more it costs you in lost productivity.

Lack of transparency: Without a rating system, it’s hard to know for sure how reliable an agency is, which adds an element of risk.

The solution: Vetted and rated recruitment agencies.

So while the traditional process has its merits, we have found a way to make it as easy as possible for you to find and select the agency that actually helps you.

On HirePort step 2 (research)  till 7 (testing) are already done. Really? Yes!

We have selected and vetted hundreds of specialized recruitment agencies, so all you have to do is decide what you are looking for and select agencies that want to work for you. Even the negotiation is already done.

You can be sure that you are working with great and reliable recruitment agencies, thanks to our secret sauce: ratings!

Why ratings, you ask?

Think about it. You rate your Uber driver, your Airbnb host, and even that hole-in-the-wall restaurant you stumbled upon last weekend. Ratings give you a quick, community-driven snapshot of what you’re getting into.

So why should recruitment agencies be any different?

Introducing HirePort’s rating system

Every recruitment agency on HirePort gets rated by other clients just like you. That means you get a reliable, community-driven picture of their performance and trustworthiness. No more guessing games or rolling the dice. You’ll know exactly who the top dogs are in each domain.

How it works

It’s simple, really.

After you’ve had your experience with a supplier, you give them a star rating, just like you would for your Uber driver. Over time, these ratings pile up, painting a clear picture of who’s nailing it and who needs to step up their game.

The benefits

1. Make informed decisions: No more shooting in the dark. With ratings, you can make choices based on actual performance metrics.
2. Save time: Forget about endless interviews and negotiations. A quick glance at the ratings, and you’ll know who to go for.
3. Community-driven: These ratings are from people who’ve been in your shoes. It’s like getting advice from a trusted friend.

Quick wins

1. Start with the top-rated: When in doubt, go for agencies with the highest ratings. They’re at the top for a reason.
2. Diversify: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Try out agencies with different strengths and ratings to see who fits your needs best.
3. Rate and review: Don’t forget to leave your own ratings and help out the community. Your insights are gold!

Ready to dive in?

If all this talk about ratings and making smarter choices has got you excited, why not take it for a spin? Schedule a demo with us to see how HirePort’s rating system can revolutionize your recruitment process. Trust us, you won’t look back.

Schedule your demo here